Columns

As I cross off the days on the calendar leading up to my 41st birthday on Monday, I can’t help but think about how this year feels so different from the last several. I celebrated my 40th birthday last year in March, finally stable as part of the Yorvipath…

“And isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?” — “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette With hypoparathyroidism, every good day is a triumph over bad days. But that doesn’t mean the good days come easy. I spent a recent day with a friend in New York watching the San Francisco 49ers…

A sunny Saturday morning, and there I was again, sitting in the waiting room at my chiropractor’s clinic. As inconvenient — and expensive — as it is to add a second appointment during the week, I’m grateful he could fit me in. I’m also thankful I was able to identify…

“Independence is happiness.” — Susan B. Anthony I have learned that if I want something done correctly, I should do it myself. I am independent. I’ve been this way my whole life, and it has helped me manage my hypoparathyroidism. Hypopara casts a shadow over my life, dictating the…

My therapist had me sit with teenage Heather during my last eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy appointment. This Heather had her light brown hair in a bob, wore big glasses and plaid shorts, and was rocking back and forth, full to the brim with anxiety and an illness…

“Scars are souvenirs you never lose/ The past is never far.” — “Name” by the Goo Goo Dolls As I’ve previously written, I take a photo every day as a reminder of a life lived, not one that has passed by. I have boxes of photos from all stages…

I’m currently staring at a $1,400 past-due bill on my desk, the cost of a decision made. In the grand scheme of my medical bills, $1,400 isn’t unusual. It’s the same price as 12 physical therapy visits once I exceed my insurance maximum, or the cost of seven eye movement…

“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.” — Dory from “Finding Nemo”  Hypoparathyroidism consumes me; it’s a constant battle, a full-time job. My life revolves around the condition, whether it’s supporting fellow patients, sharing my experiences with researchers, going to the…

Whenever I write a book, there’s always a kernel of my life tucked between the pages. My latest project is about two characters who lost four years together due to a supernatural mystery. I picked four years for a very specific reason: It was the amount of time I lost…

“Long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive/ I’ve got my life to live, and all my love to give/ And I will survive.” — “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor My journey into motherhood began right as I was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism. Nine months…